Tracking functionality standby mode for third party electronic devices

ABSTRACT

An electronic device with a primary functionality and a tracking functionality can be used in a centralized tracking system. A controller configures the electronic device to operate in one of a set of: an “on” mode, an “off” mode, a first standby mode, and a tracking standby mode. While configured to operate in the “on” mode, the primary and tracking functionality of the electronic device are enabled, and while configured to operate in the “off” mode, both are disabled. While configured to operate in the first standby mode, the tracking functionality is enabled and the primary functionality is limited. While configured to operate in the tracking standby mode, the primary functionality is disabled but the tracking functionality is enabled, enabling the electronic device to be located while the primary functionality is disabled and saving power relative to the first standby mode and the “on” mode.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to tracking devices, and morespecifically, to configuring electronic devices for use in a centralizedtracking system.

Users can attach tracking devices to one or more personal objects, suchas keys, a phone, a car, a briefcase, and the like. The tracking devicecan communicatively couple to a mobile device of the user (or of acommunity member), and the mobile device can, in response to receiving acommunication from the tracking device, determine a location of themobile device (for instance, via a GPS receiver). The mobile device canthen provide an identifier for the tracking device and the determinedlocation of the mobile device to a cloud server, which can associate thetracking device with the determined location of the mobile device. Userscan then query the cloud server to identify the location of objects towhich the tracking devices are coupled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example tracking system environment in which atracking device can operate, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example tracking system for use in a trackingsystem environment, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example user mobile device for use in a trackingsystem environment, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example community mobile device for use in atracking system environment, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example tracking device for use in a trackingsystem environment, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example tracking system environment in which anelectronic device can be commissioned to operate, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example of a laptop in an “on” mode, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 7B illustrates an example of the switch of the laptop in the “on”mode, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7C illustrates an example of a laptop in a standby mode, accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 7D illustrates an example of the switch of the laptop in thestandby mode, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7E illustrates an example of a laptop in a tracking standby mode,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7F illustrates an example of the switch of the laptop in thetracking standby mode, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7G illustrates an example of a laptop in an “off” mode, accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 7H illustrates the switch of the laptop in the “off” mode,according to one embodiment.

The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention forpurposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readilyrecognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments ofthe structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Environment Overview

Embodiments described herein detail functionality associated with atracking device. A user can attach a tracking device to or enclose thetracking device within an object, such as a wallet, keys, a car, a bike,a pet, or any other object that the user wants to track. Or, a trackingdevice can be a device with a primary purpose unrelated to trackingfunctionality (e.g., a set of headphones, an electronic key, a wirelessspeaker, a fitness tracker, a camera) that has an integrated trackingcomponent that allows the device to be tracked. The user can then use amobile device (e.g., by way of a software application installed on themobile device) or other device or service to track the tracking device.For example, the mobile device can perform a local search for a trackingdevice. However, in situations where the user is unable to locate thetracking device using their own mobile device (e.g., if the trackingdevice is beyond a distance within which the mobile device and thetracking device can communicate), the user can leverage the capabilitiesof a community of users of a tracking device system as described below.

A tracking system (also referred to herein as a “cloud server,”“tracking server,” or simply “server”) can maintain user profilesassociated with a plurality of users of the tracking system. Thetracking system can associate each user within the system with one ormore tracking devices associated the user (e.g., tracking devices thatthe user has purchased and is using to track objects owned by the user,or devices that include a tracking component and have additionalnon-tracking features). If the user's tracking device, or the object towhich the tracking device is attached, becomes lost or stolen, the usercan send an indication that the tracking device is lost to the trackingsystem, which is in communication with one or more mobile devicesassociated with the community of users in communication with the system.The tracking system can set a flag indicating the tracking device islost. When one of a community of mobile devices that are scanning fornearby tracking devices and providing updated locations to the trackingsystem identifies a flagged tracking device, the tracking system canassociate the received location with the flagged tracking device, andrelay the location to a user of the tracking device, thereby enablingthe user to locate the lost tracking device. As used herein, “mobiledevice” can refer to a phone, tablet computer, or other connecteddevice, and can also refer to systems typically not consider mobile,such as servers, routers, gateways, access points, and specializedsystems configured to couple to tracking devices and report a locationof the tracking devices.

As used herein, “tracking device” can refer to any device configured tocommunicate with another device for the purpose of locating the trackingdevice. Tracking devices can be specialized or single-purpose devices(e.g., self-contained devices that include circuitry or components tocommunicate with another device). However, “tracking device” as usedherein can also refer to device or object with a different primaryfunction but with secondary tracking device functionality. For example,a wireless speaker can include tracking device components that allow auser to track and/or locate the wireless speaker. In some embodiments, atracking device platform can be established such that devices andobjects that satisfy one or more criteria can act as tracking deviceswithin a tracking device ecosystem. For instance, a tracking deviceprovider can provide an SDK or custom chipset that, when incorporatedinto an object or device, enable the object or device to function astracking devices, to communicate with other devices within the trackingdevice ecosystem, and to implement the functionalities described herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example tracking system environment in which atracking device can operate, according to one embodiment. Theenvironment of FIG. 1 includes a tracking system 100 communicativelycoupled to a mobile device 102 associated with the user 103 via a firstnetwork 108. The tracking system 100 is also communicatively coupled toa plurality of community mobile devices 104 a through 104 n(collectively referred to herein as “community mobile devices 104”)associated with a plurality of users 105 a through 105 n of the trackingsystem 100 (collectively referred to herein as “community users 105”)via the first network 108. As will be explained in more detail below,the tracking system 100 can allow the user 103 to manage and/or locate atracking device 106 associated with the user 103. In some embodiments,the tracking system 100 leverages the capabilities of community mobiledevices 104 to locate the tracking device 106 if the location of thetracking device is unknown to the user 103 and beyond the capabilitiesof mobile device 102 to track. In some configurations, the user 103 mayown and register multiple tracking devices 106. Although FIG. 1illustrates a particular arrangement of the tracking system 100, mobiledevice 102, community mobile devices 104, and tracking device 106,various additional arrangements are possible.

In some configurations, the user 103 may be part of the community ofusers 105. Further, one or more users 105 may own and register one ormore tracking devices 106. Thus, any one of the users within thecommunity of users 105 can communicate with tracking system 100 andleverage the capabilities of the community of users 105 in addition tothe user 103 to locate a tracking device 106 that has been lost.

The tracking system 100, mobile device 102, and plurality of communitymobile devices 104 may communicate using any communication platforms andtechnologies suitable for transporting data and/or communicationsignals, including known communication technologies, devices, media, andprotocols supportive of remote data communications.

In certain embodiments, the tracking system 100, mobile device 102, andcommunity mobile devices 104 may communicate via a first network 108,which may include one or more networks, including, but not limited to,wireless networks (e.g., wireless communication networks), mobiletelephone networks (e.g., cellular telephone networks), closedcommunication networks, open communication networks, satellite networks,navigation networks, broadband networks, narrowband networks, theInternet, local area networks, and any other networks capable ofcarrying data and/or communications signals between the tracking system100, mobile device 102, and community mobile devices 104. The mobiledevice 102 and community of mobile devices 104 may also be incommunication with a tracking device 106 via a second network 110. Thesecond network 110 may be a similar or different type of network as thefirst network 108. In some embodiments, the second network 110 comprisesa wireless network with a limited communication range, such as aBluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless network. In someconfigurations, the second network 110 is a point-to-point networkincluding the tracking device 106 and one or more mobile devices thatfall within a proximity of the tracking device 106. In such embodiments,the mobile device 102 and community mobile devices 104 may only be ableto communicate with the tracking device 106 if they are within a closeproximity to the tracking device, though in other embodiments, thetracking device can use long-distance communication functionality (forinstance, a GSM transceiver) to communicate with either a mobile device102/104 or the tracking system 100 at any distance. In someconfigurations, the mobile device 102 and one or more community mobiledevices 104 may each be associated with multiple tracking devicesassociated with various users.

As mentioned above, FIG. 1 illustrates the mobile device 102 associatedwith the user 103. The mobile device 102 can be configured to performone or more functions described herein with respect to locating trackingdevices (e.g., tracking device 106). For example, the mobile device 102can receive input from the user 103 representative of information aboutthe user 103 and information about a tracking device 106. The mobiledevice 102 may then provide the received user information, trackingdevice information, and/or information about the mobile device 102 tothe tracking system 100. Accordingly, the tracking system 100 is able toassociate the mobile device 102, the user 103, and/or the trackingdevice 106 with one another. In some embodiments, the mobile device 102can communicate with the tracking device 106 and provide informationregarding the location of the tracking device to the user 103. Forexample, the mobile device 102 can detect a communication signal fromthe tracking device 106 (e.g., by way of second network 110) as well asa strength of the communication signal or other measure of proximity todetermine an approximate distance between the mobile device 102 and thetracking device 106. The mobile device 102 can then provide thisinformation to the user 103 (e.g., by way of one or more graphical userinterfaces) to assist the user 103 to locate the tracking device 106.Accordingly, the user 103 can use the mobile device 102 to track andlocate the tracking device 106 and a corresponding object associatedwith the tracking device 106. If the mobile device 102 is located beyondthe immediate range of communication with the tracking device 106 (e.g.,beyond the second network 110), the mobile device 102 can be configuredto send an indication that a tracking device 106 is lost to the trackingsystem 100, requesting assistance in finding the tracking device. Themobile device 102 can send an indication of a lost device in response toa command from the user 103. For example, once the user 103 hasdetermined that the tracking device 106 is lost, the user can provideuser input to the mobile device 102 (e.g., by way of a graphical userinterface), requesting that the mobile device 102 send an indicationthat the tracking device 106 is lost to the tracking system 100. In someexamples, the lost indication can include information identifying theuser 103 (e.g., name, username, authentication information), informationassociated with the mobile device 102 (e.g., a mobile phone number),information associated with the tracking device (e.g., a unique trackingdevice identifier), or a location of the user (e.g., a GPS location ofthe mobile device 102 at the time the request is sent).

The tracking system 100 can be configured to provide a number offeatures and services associated with the tracking and management of aplurality of tracking devices and/or users associated with the trackingdevices. For example, the tracking system 100 can manage informationand/or user profiles associated with user 103 and community users 105.In particular, the tracking system 100 can manage information associatedwith the tracking device 106 and/or other tracking devices associatedwith the user 103 and/or the community users 105.

As mentioned above, the tracking system 100 can receive an indicationthat the tracking device 106 is lost from the mobile device 102. Thetracking system 100 can then process the indication in order to help theuser 103 find the tracking device 106. For example, the tracking system100 can leverage the capabilities of the community mobile devices 104 tohelp find the tracking device 106. In particular, the tracking system100 may set a flag for a tracking device 106 to indicate that thetracking device 106 lost and monitor communications received from thecommunity mobile devices 104 indicating the location of one or moretracking devices 106 within proximity of the community mobile devices104. The tracking system 100 can determine whether a specific locationis associated with the lost tracking device 106 and provide any locationupdates associated with the tracking device 106 to the mobile device102. In one example, the tracking system may receive constant updates oftracking device 106 locations regardless of whether a tracking device106 is lost and provide a most recent updated location of the trackingdevice 106 in response to receiving an indication that the trackingdevice 106 is lost.

In some configurations, the tracking system 100 can send a locationrequest associated with the tracking device 106 to each of the communitymobile devices 104. The location request can include any instructionsand/or information necessary for the community mobile devices 106 tofind the tracking device 102. For example, the location request caninclude a unique identifier associated with the tracking device 106 thatcan be used by the community mobile devices 104 to identify the trackingdevice 106. Accordingly, if one of the community mobile devices 104detects a communication from the tracking device 106 (e.g., if thecommunity mobile device 104 is within range or moves within range of thecommunication capabilities of the tracking device 106 and receives asignal from the tracking device 106 including or associated with theunique identifier associated with the tracking device 106), thecommunity mobile device 104 can inform the tracking system 100. Usingthe information received from the community mobile devices 104, thetracking system 100 can inform the user (e.g., by way of the mobiledevice 102) of a potential location of the tracking device 106.

As shown in FIG. 1 and as mentioned above, the tracking system 100 cancommunicate with a plurality of community mobile devices 104 associatedwith corresponding community users 105. For example, an implementationmay include a first community mobile device 104 a associated with afirst community user 105 a, a second community mobile device 104 bassociated with a second community user 105 b, and additionalcommunication mobile devices associated with additional community usersup to an nth community mobile device 104 n associated with an nthcommunity user 105 n. The community mobile devices 104 may also includefunctionality that enables each community mobile device 104 to identifya tracking device 106 within a proximity of the community mobile device104. In one example, a first community mobile device 104 a withinproximity of a tracking device 106 can communicate with the trackingdevice 106, identify the tracking device 106 (e.g., using a uniqueidentifier associated with the tracking device 106), and/or detect alocation associated with the tracking device 106 (e.g., a location ofthe first mobile community device 104 a at the time of the communicationwith the tracking device 106). This information can be used to provideupdated locations and/or respond to a location request from the trackingsystem 100 regarding the tracking device 106. In some embodiments, thesteps performed by the first community mobile device 104 a can be hiddenfrom the first community user 105 a. Accordingly, the first communitymobile device 104 a can assist in locating the tracking device 106without bother and without the knowledge of the first community user 105a.

As mentioned above, the tracking system 100 can assist a user 103 inlocating a tracking device 106. The tracking device may be a chip, tile,tag, or other device for housing circuitry and that may be attached toor enclosed within an object such as a wallet, keys, purse, car, orother object that the user 103 may track. Additionally, the trackingdevice 106 may include a speaker for emitting a sound and/or atransmitter for broadcasting a beacon. In one configuration, thetracking device 106 may periodically transmit a beacon signal that maybe detected using a nearby mobile device 102 and/or community mobiledevice 104. In some configurations, the tracking device 106 broadcasts abeacon at regular intervals (e.g., one second intervals) that may bedetected from a nearby mobile device (e.g., community mobile device104). The strength of the signal emitted from the tracking device 106may be used to determine a degree of proximity to the mobile device 102or community mobile device 104 that detects the signal. For example, ahigher strength signal would indicate a close proximity between thetracking device 106 and the mobile device 102 and a lower strengthsignal would indicate a more remote proximity between the trackingdevice 106 and the mobile device 102, though in some embodiments, thetracking device 106 can intentionally vary the transmission strength ofthe beacon signal. In some cases, the strength of signal or absence of asignal may be used to indicate that a tracking device 106 is lost.

System Overview

FIG. 2 illustrates an example tracking system for use in a trackingsystem environment, according to one embodiment. As shown, the trackingsystem 100 may include, but is not limited to, an association manager204, a tracking device location manager 206, and a data manager 208,each of which may be in communication with one another using anysuitable communication technologies. It will be recognized that althoughmanagers 204-208 are shown to be separate in FIG. 2, any of the managers204-208 may be combined into fewer managers, such as into a singlemanager, or divided into more managers as may serve a particularembodiment.

The association manager 204 may be configured to receive, transmit,obtain, and/or update information about a user 103 and/or informationabout one or more specific tracking devices (e.g., tracking device 106).In some configurations, the association manager 204 may associateinformation associated with a user 103 with information associated witha tracking device 106. For example, user information and trackinginformation may be obtained by way of a mobile device 102, and theassociation manager 204 may be used to link the user information andtracking information. The association between user 103 and trackingdevice 106 may be used for authentication purposes, or for storing userinformation, tracking device information, permissions, or otherinformation about a user 103 and/or tracking device 106 in a database.

The tracking system 100 also includes a tracking device location manager206. The tracking device location manager 206 may receive and process anindication that the tracking device 106 is lost from a mobile device(e.g., mobile device 102 or community mobile devices 104). For example,the tracking system 100 may receive a lost indication from a mobiledevice 102 indicating that the tracking device 106 is lost. The trackingdevice location manager 206 may set a flag on a database (e.g., trackerdatabase 212) indicating that the tracking device 106 is lost. Thetracking device location manager 206 may also query a database todetermine tracking information corresponding to the associated user 103and/or tracking device 106. The tracking system 100 may obtain trackingdevice information and provide the tracking device information or otherinformation associated with the tracking device 106 to a plurality ofcommunity mobile devices 104 to be on alert for the lost or unavailabletracking device 106.

The tracking device location manager 206 may also receive a locationfrom one or more community mobile devices 104 that detect the trackingdevice 106, for instance in response to the community mobile devicereceiving a beacon signal transmitted by the tracking device 106,without the tracking device 106 having been previously marked as lost.In such embodiments, a user corresponding to the mobile device 102 canrequest a most recent location associated with the tracking device fromthe tracking system 100, and the location manager 206 can provide thelocation received from the community mobile device for display by themobile device 102. In some embodiments, the location manager 206provides the location of the tracking device 106 received from acommunity mobile device either automatically (for instance if thetracking device 106 is marked as lost) or at the request of a user ofthe mobile device 102 (for instance, via an application on the mobiledevice 102). The location manager 206 can provide a location of atracking device 106 to a mobile device 102 via a text message, pushnotification, application notification, automated voice message, or anyother suitable form of communication.

The tracking device location manager 206 may further manage providingindications about whether a tracking device 106 is lost or not lost. Forexample, as discussed above, the tracking device location manager 206may provide a location request to the community of mobile devices 104indicating that a tracking device 106 is lost. Additionally, uponlocation of the tracking device 106 by the user 103 or by one of thecommunity of users 105, the tracking device location manager 206 mayprovide an indication to the user 103, community user 105, or trackingsystem 100 that the tracking device 106 has been found, thus removingany flags associated with a tracking device and/or canceling anylocation request previously provided to the community of users 105. Forexample, where a user 103 sends an indication that the tracking device106 is lost to the tracking system 100 and later finds the trackingdevice 106, the mobile device 102 may provide an indication to thetracking system 100 that the tracking device 106 has been found. Inresponse, the tracking device location manager 206 may remove a flagindicating that the tracking device 106 is lost and/or provide anupdated indication to the community of users 105 that the trackingdevice 106 has been found, thus canceling any instructions associatedwith the previously provided location request. In some configurations,the notification that the tracking device 106 has been found may beprovided automatically upon the mobile device 102 detecting the trackingdevice 106 within a proximity of the mobile device 102. Alternatively,the notification that the tracking device 106 has been found may beprovided by the user 103 via user input on the mobile device 102. Inanother example, a known user (e.g., a friend or family member) withwhom the tracking device 106 has been shared may provide an indicationthat the tracking device 106 has been found.

The tracking system 100 additionally includes a data manager 208. Thedata manager 208 may store and manage information associated with users,mobile devices, tracking devices, permissions, location requests, andother data that may be stored and/or maintained in a database related toperforming location services of tracking devices. As shown, the datamanager 208 may include, but is not limited to, a user database 210, atracker database 212, permissions data 214, and location request data216. It will be recognized that although databases and data within thedata manager 208 are shown to be separate in FIG. 2, any of the userdatabase 210, tracker database 212, permissions data 214, and locationrequest data 216 may be combined in a single database or manager, ordivided into more databases or managers as may serve a particularembodiment.

The data manager 208 may include the user database 210. The userdatabase 210 may be used to store data related to various users. Forexample, the user database 210 may include data about the user 103 aswell as data about each user 105 in a community of users 105. Thecommunity of users 105 may include any user that has provided userinformation to the tracking system 100 via a mobile device 102, 104 orother electronic device. The user information may be associated with oneor more respective tracking devices 106, or may be stored without anassociation to a particular tracking device. For example, a communityuser 105 may provide user information and permit performance of trackingfunctions on the community mobile device 104 without owning or beingassociated with a tracking device 106. The user database 210 may alsoinclude information about one or more mobile devices or other electronicdevices associated with a particular user.

The data manager 208 may also include a tracker database 212. Thetracker database 212 may be used to store data related to trackingdevices. For example, the tracker database 212 may include tracking datafor any tracking device 106 that has been registered with the trackingsystem 100. Tracking data may include unique tracker identifications(IDs) associated with individual tracking devices 106. Tracker IDs maybe associated with a respective user 103. Tracker IDs may also beassociated with multiple users. Additionally, the tracker database 212may include any flags or other indications associated with whether aspecific tracking device 106 has been indicated as lost and whether anyincoming communications with regard to that tracking device 106 shouldbe processed based on the presence of a flag associated with thetracking device 106.

The data manager 208 may further include permissions data 214 andlocation request data 216. Permissions data 214 may include levels ofpermissions associated with a particular user 103 and/or tracking device106. For example, permissions data 214 may include additional users thathave been indicated as sharing a tracking device 106, or who have beengiven permission to locate or receive a location of a tracking device106. Location request data 216 may include information related to alocation request or a lost indication received from the user 103 via amobile device 102.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example user mobile device for use in a trackingsystem environment, according to one embodiment. As shown, the mobiledevice 102 may include, but is not limited to, a user interface manager302, a location request manager 304, a database manager 306, and atracking manager 308, each of which may be in communication with oneanother using any suitable communication technologies. It will berecognized that although managers 302-308 are shown to be separate inFIG. 3, any of the managers 302-308 may be combined into fewer managers,such as into a single manager, or divided into more managers as mayserve a particular embodiment.

As will be explained in more detail below, the mobile device 102includes the user interface manager 302. The user interface manager 302may facilitate providing the user 103 access to data on a trackingsystem 100 and/or providing data to the tracking system 100. Further,the user interface manager 302 provides a user interface by which theuser 103 may communicate with tracking system 100 and/or tracking device106 via mobile device 102.

The mobile device 102 may also include a location request manager 304.The location request manager 304 may receive and process a request inputto the mobile device 102 to send an indication that a tracking device106 is lost to a tracking system 100. For example, the user 103 mayprovide an indication that a tracking device 106 is lost, unreachable,or otherwise unavailable, from the mobile device 102 via the userinterface manager 302, and the location request manager 304 may processthe lost indication and provide any necessary data to the trackingsystem 100 for processing and relaying a location request to other users105 over a network 108. In some configurations, an indication that atracking device 106 is lost is provided via user input. Alternatively,the indication may be transmitted automatically in response to themobile device 102 determining that a tracking device 106 is lost.

In addition, the location request manager 304 can request a location ofthe tracking device 106 without the tracking device 106 being identifiedas lost. For instance, a user can access a tracking device locationfeature of an application running on the mobile device 102 (for example,via the user interface manager 302), and the location request manager304 can request a most recent location of the tracking device 106 fromthe tracking system 100. The location request manager 304 can receivethe most recent location from the tracking system 100, and can displaythe most recent location via the user interface manager 302.

The mobile device 102 may also include a database manager 306. Thedatabase manager 306 may maintain data related to the user 103, trackingdevice 106, permissions, or other data that may be used for locating atracking device 106 and/or providing a request to a tracking system 100for locating one or more tracking devices 106 associated with the user103. Further, the database manager 306 may maintain any information thatmay be accessed using any other manager on the mobile device 102.

The mobile device 102 may further include a tracking manager 308. Thetracking manager 308 may include a tracking application (e.g., asoftware application) for communicating with and locating a trackingdevice 106 associated with the user 103. For example, the trackingmanager 308 may be one configuration of a tracking application installedon the mobile device 102 that provides the functionality for locating atracking device 106 and/or requesting location of a tracking device 106using a tracking system 100 and/or a plurality of community mobiledevices 104. As shown, the tracking manager 308 may include, but is notlimited to, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) manager 310, a persistencemanager 312, a local files manager 314, a motion manager 316, a securestorage manager 318, a settings manager 320, a location manager 322, anetwork manager 324, a notification manager 326, a sound manager 328, afriends manager 330, a photo manager 332, an authentication manager 334,and a device manager 336. Thus, the tracking manager 308 may perform anyof the functions associated with managers 310-338, described inadditional detail below.

The BLE manager 310 may be used to manage communication with one or moretracking devices 106. The persistence manager 312 may be used to storelogical schema information that is relevant to the tracking manager 308.The local files manager 314 may be responsible for managing all filesthat are input or output from the mobile device 102. The motion manager316 may be responsible for all motion management required by thetracking manager 308. The secure storage manager may be responsible forstorage of secure data, including information such as passwords andprivate data that would be accessed through this sub-system. Thesettings manager 320 may be responsible for managing settings used bythe tracking manager 308. Such settings may be user controlled (e.g.,user settings) or defined by the tracking manager 308 for internal use(e.g., application settings) by a mobile device 102 and/or the trackingsystem 100. The location manager 322 may be responsible for all locationtracking done by the tracking manager 308. For example, the locationmanager 322 may manage access to the location services of the mobiledevice 102 and works in conjunction with other managers to persist data.The network manager 324 may be responsible for all Internetcommunications from the tracking manager 308. For example, the networkmanager 324 may mediate all Internet API calls for the tracking manager308. The notification manager 326 may be responsible for managing localand push notifications required by the tracking manager 308. The soundmanager 328 may be responsible for playback of audio cues by thetracking manager 308. The friends manager 330 may be responsible formanaging access to contacts and the user's social graph. The photomanager 332 may be responsible for capturing and managing photos used bythe tracking manager 308. The authentication manager 334 may beresponsible for handling the authentication (e.g., sign in or login) ofusers. The authentication manager 334 may also include registration(e.g., sign up) functionality. The authentication manager 334 furthercoordinates with other managers to achieve registration functionality.The device manager 336 may be responsible for managing the devicesdiscovered by the tracking manager 308. The device manager 336 mayfurther store and/or maintain the logic for algorithms related to devicediscovery and update.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example community mobile device for use in atracking system environment, according to one embodiment. As shown, thecommunity mobile device 104 may include, but is not limited to, a userinterface manager 402, a tracking device manager 404, a database manager406, and a tracking manager 408, each of which may be in communicationwith one another using any suitable communication technologies. The userinterface manager 402, database manager 406, and tracking manager 408illustrated in FIG. 4 may include similar features and functionality asthe user interface manager 302, database manager 306, and trackingmanager 308 described above in connection with FIG. 3. It will berecognized that although managers 402-408 are shown to be separate inFIG. 4, any of the managers 402-408 may be combined into fewer managers,such as into a single manager, or divided into more managers as mayserve a particular embodiment.

The community mobile device 104 may include a tracking device manager404. The tracking device manager 404 may facilitate scanning for nearbytracking devices 106. In some configurations, the tracking devicemanager 404 can continuously or periodically scan (e.g., once persecond) for nearby tracking devices 106. The tracking device manager 404may determine whether to provide an updated location of the nearbytracking device 106 to the tracking system 100. In some configurations,the tracking device manager 404 provides a location of a nearby trackingdevice 106 automatically. Alternatively, the tracking device manager 404may determine whether the location of the tracking device 106 has beenrecently updated, and may determine whether to provide an updatedlocation based on the last time a location of the tracking device 106has been updated (e.g., by the community mobile device 104). Forexample, where the community mobile device 104 has provided a recentupdate of the location of a tracking device 106, the tracking devicemanager 404 may decide to wait a predetermined period of time (e.g., 5minutes) before providing an updated location of the same trackingdevice 106.

In one configuration, the tracking device manager 404 may receive andprocess a location request or other information relayed to the communitymobile device 104 by the tracking system 100. For example, the trackingdevice manager 404 may receive an indication of a tracking device 106that has been indicated as lost, and provide a location of the trackingdevice 106 if it comes within proximity of the community mobile device104. In some configurations, the community mobile device 104 isconstantly scanning nearby areas to determine if there is a trackingdevice 106 within a proximity of the community mobile device 104.Therefore, where a tracking device 106 that matches information providedby the tracking system 100 (e.g., from the location request) comeswithin proximity of the community mobile device 104, the tracking devicemanager 404 may generate and transmit a response to the location requestto the tracking system 100, which may be provided to the user 103associated with the tracking device 106. Further, generating andtransmitting the response to the tracking request may be conditioned onthe status of the tracking device 106 being flagged as lost by themobile device 102 and/or the tracking system 100.

The tracking device manager 404 may additionally provide otherinformation to the tracking system 100 in response to receiving thetracking request. For example, in addition to providing a location ofthe community mobile device 104, the tracking device manager may providea signal strength associated with the location to indicate a level ofproximity to the location of the community mobile device 104 provided tothe user 103. For example, if a signal strength is high, the locationprovided to the user 103 is likely to be more accurate than a locationaccompanied by a low signal strength. This may provide additionalinformation that the user 103 may find useful in determining the preciselocation of tracking device 106.

As described above, the tracking device manager 404 may determinewhether to send a location within the proximity of the tracking device106 to the tracking system 100. The determination of whether to send alocation to the tracking system 100 may be based on a variety offactors. For example, a tracking device manager 404 may determine tosend a location of the tracking device 106 to a tracking system 100based on whether the detected tracking device 106 has been indicated aslost or if a tracking request has been provided to the community mobiledevice 104 for the particular tracking device 106. In someconfigurations, the community mobile device 104 may send an update of alocation of a tracking device 106 even if the tracking device 106 is notassociated with a current tracking request or if the tracking device 106is not indicated as lost. For example, where the location of a trackingdevice 106 has not been updated for a predetermined period of time, thecommunity mobile device 104 may provide an update of a tracking devicelocation to the tracking system 100, regardless of whether a trackingrequest has been received.

In some configurations, the community mobile device 104 may includeadditional features. For example, the community mobile device 104 mayallow a tracking system 100 to snap and download a photo using photofunctionality of the community mobile device 104. In someconfigurations, this may be an opt-in feature by which a community user105 permits a tracking system 100 to take a snap-shot and possiblyprovide a visual image of an area within a proximity of the trackingdevice 106.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example tracking device for use in a trackingsystem environment, according to one embodiment. The tracking device 106of FIG. 5 includes an interface 502, a transceiver 504, a controller506, and one or more sensors 508. The transceiver 504 is a hardwarecircuit capable of both transmitting and receiving signals. It should benoted that in other embodiments, the tracking device 106 includes fewer,additional, or different components than those illustrated in FIG. 5.

The interface 502 provides a communicative interface between thetracking device 106 and one or more other devices, such as a mobiledevice 102. For instance, the interface 502 can instruct the transceiver504 to output beacon signals as described above (for example,periodically or in response to a triggering event, such as a detectedmovement of the tracking device 106). The interface 502 can, in responseto the receiving of signals by the transceiver 504 from, for instance,the mobile device 102, manage a pairing protocol to establish acommunicative connection between the tracking device 106 and the mobiledevice 102. As noted above, the pairing protocol can be a BLEconnection, though in other embodiments, the interface 502 can manageother suitable wireless connection protocols (such as WiFi, GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications or GSM, and the like).

The controller 506 is a hardware chip that configures the trackingdevice 106 to perform one or more functions or to operate in one oroperating modes or states. For instance, the controller 506 canconfigure the interval at which the transceiver broadcasts beaconsignals, can authorize or prevent particular devices from pairing withthe tracking device 106 based on information received from the devicesand permissions stored at the tracking device, can increase or decreasethe transmission strength of signals broadcasted by the transceiver, canconfigure the interface to emit a ringtone or flash an LED light, canenable or disable various tracking device sensors, can enable or disablecommunicative functionality of the tracking device 106 (such as a GSMtransmitter and receiving), can configure the tracking device into asleep mode or awake mode, can configure the tracking device into a powersaving mode, and the like. The controller 506 can configure the trackingdevice to perform functions or to operate in a particular operating modebased on information or signals received from a device paired with orattempting to pair with the tracking device 106, based on an operatingstate or connection state of the tracking device 106, based onuser-selected settings, based on information stored at the trackingdevice 106, based on a detected location of the tracking device 106,based on historical behavior of the tracking device 106 (such as aprevious length of time the tracking device was configured to operate ina particular mode), based on information received from the sensors 508,or based on any other suitable criteria.

The sensors 508 can include motion sensors (such as gyroscopes oraccelerators), altimeters, orientation sensors, proximity sensors, lightsensors, or any other suitable sensor configured to detect anenvironment of the tracking device 106, a state of the tracking device106, a movement or location of the tracking device 106, and the like.The sensors 508 are configured to provide information detected by thesensors to the controller 506.

Tracking Standby Mode for Third Party Electronic Devices

As noted above, a user can commission an electronic device, for instancea device with a primary function other than tracking, for use in thetracking system 100. In one embodiment, the electronic device may bemanufactured by a third-party, such as a manufacturer or company otherthan an entity responsible for operation of the tracking system 100.Once an electronic device is commissioned to operate with the trackingsystem 100, tracking and location functionality can be enabled withinthe electronic device, thus enabling the electronic device to operate asa tracking device within the tracking system 100.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example tracking system environment in which anelectronic device can be commissioned to operate, according to oneembodiment. The environment of FIG. 6 includes a user 103 with a mobiledevice 102 communicatively coupled to a tracking system 100 via thefirst network 108. In addition, the environment of FIG. 6 includes twoelectronic devices for commissioning with the tracking system 100, butwith a primary function other than tracking: a laptop 600 and a vehicle602.

It should be noted that although FIG. 6 illustrates a laptop and avehicle, other types of electronic devices may be commissioned tooperate with the tracking system 100, such as a pair of headphones, atablet computer, a piece of luggage, a backpack, an electronic wallet, asmart key, a smart watch, or any other electronic device equipped withfunctionality to operate as a tracking device (for instance, anyelectronic device with Bluetooth functionality or any device that isconfigured to communicate with the mobile device 102). In someembodiments, the electronic devices are not registered with the trackingsystem 100 prior to commissioning, and thus are unable to communicatewith the tracking 100, either directly or via the mobile device 102. Inother embodiments, the electronic devices are able to communicate withthe tracking system 100, either directly or via the mobile device 102.

After commissioning an electronic device, the electronic device canoperate as a tracking device as described above, for instance byproviding an identifier to the mobile device 102, which in turndetermines a location of the mobile device and provides the identifierof the electronic device and the location of the mobile device to thetracking system 100 (which in turn associates the identifier with thelocation).

In some embodiments, the user 103 commissions an electronic device foroperation with the tracking system 100 for security purposes. Forinstance, once the electronic device is commissioned, the user canlocate and keep track of the device by requesting a location of theelectronic device from the tracking system 100, via a trackingapplication executed by the mobile device 102. In such embodiments, thetracking system 100 receives locations of the electronic device fromother mobile devices that communicatively couple with the electronicdevice when within communicative range of the electronic device, andprovides one or more of these received locations to the user whenrequested (or when the distance between the user and the electronicdevice exceeds a threshold). For example, if the user 103 parks thevehicle 602, which has been commissioned for use within the trackingsystem 100, and the vehicle 602 is stolen and moved to a location thatis beyond the communication range of the mobile device 102, the mobiledevice 102 may notify the user 103. Thus, the commissioned electronicdevice ultimately functions as a tracking device within the trackingsystem 100 environment.

An electronic device operating within the tracking system 100 may have aprimary functionality other than tracking functionality. Separateelectronic circuits powered by a power source are configured to enablethe primary functionality and tracking functionality in the electronicdevice. The primary functionality of an electronic device can beindependent of the tracking functionality of the device. For example,the laptop 600 may primarily be used to connect the user 103 to the WiFivia a router for using email, social networking systems, and otheronline systems or allow the user 103 to play music, videos, or virtualgames. Alternatively, the vehicle 602 may primarily be used to transportthe user 103 between locations. Likewise, the primary functionality of apair of headphones with tracking functionality is to play music oraudio, the primary functionality of a smartwatch with trackingfunctionality is to display the time, and the primary functionality of atablet computer with tracking functionality can be watching videos.

Such electronic devices may operate in multiple modes, such as a fullyoperational or “on” mode, a fully disabled or “off” mode, a firststandby mode (where the primary functionality of the electronic deviceis limited), and a second standby mode or tracking standby mode (wherethe primary functionality of the electronic device is disabled but thetracking functionality of the electronic device is operational). Acontroller within the electronic device is configured to configure theelectronic device to operate in one of these modes, and to switchbetween the modes. While in the “on” mode, the electronic device hasfull functionality, which includes both the primary functionality andthe tracking functionality of the electronic device, according to anembodiment. While in off mode, the electronic device has nofunctionality, and tracking functionality is disabled. In the firststandby mode, the electronic device is in a low power state butmaintains restricted primary functionality, such as receiving messageson the laptop 600 or playing the radio in the vehicle 602, and maintainsfull tracking functionality. In some embodiments, the electronic devicecan only run background operations when primary functionality isrestricted. The electronic device can quickly transition from standbymode to on mode. In the second standby mode, the primary functionalityof the electronic device is fully disabled, but the trackingfunctionality of the electronic device is fully enabled. The secondstandby mode uses less power than the first standby mode whilepreserving the ability of a user to locate the electronic device. Forexample, the second standby mode may be able to operate at 1 milliwatthour per day, which may provide at least a year of power for operationin the second standby mode.

In certain operating conditions, the electronic device has limitedbattery power, making power conservation of interest to a user. When theelectronic device is in the “on” mode, the electronic device is usingpower saved by a battery within the electronic device to enable fullfunctionality. The first standby mode requires less power than on modesince the device is only enabling some of the primary functionality. Insome embodiments, a user switches the electronic device to the firststandby mode with a physical switch or software switch. Likewise, theelectronic device can enter the first standby mode when the device hasnot been used or interacted with for a threshold period of time. In the“off” mode, the electronic device is not using power for either theprimary functionality or the tracking functionality. The user mayconfigure the electronic device to operate in the “off” mode using ahard power switch, such as a switch that physically separates the powersource from the electronic circuits that control the functionality ofthe electronic device. This may save power relative to the “on” mode,the first standby more, and the second standby mode. Though the “off”mode uses the least amount of power of the operating modes describedherein, because the tracking functionality is disabled, the electronicdevice cannot be tracked, and if lost, the user cannot use the trackingsystem 100 to find the electronic device. In some embodiments, theelectronic device may not include an “off” mode. In these embodiments,the electronic device is never fully disconnected from power, andinstead of turning the electronic device off, a user may configure theelectronic device to operate in the second standby mode. This may act asa theft deterrent since the electronic device can still be tracked whileoperating in the second standby mode, which would not be possible if theelectronic device was in “off” mode. It should also be noted that insome embodiments, the electronic device may be configured to operate ineither the “on” mode or the second standby mode (e.g., the electronicdevice may not be configured to operate in the first standby mode or the“off” mode).

As noted above, while operating in the second or tracking standby mode,the primary functionality of the electronic device is disabled while thetracking functionality is preserved. For example, the audio ability of apair of headphones can be disabled, but the headphones can stilltransmit advertisement beacon signals, allowed nearby mobile devices toreceive the beacon signals and provide an identity of the headphones inconjunction with a detected location to the tracking system 100.

The electronic device can include a switch (such as a soft power switch)that a user can toggle or interact with to configure the electronicdevice to operate in the tracking standby mode. The switch can beelectronically coupled to a first electronic circuit associated with theprimary functionality of the electronic device, and to a secondelectronic circuit (such as a Bluetooth Low-Energy or “BLE” transceiver)associated with the tracking functionality of the electronic device.When the electronic device is configured to operate in the trackingstandby mode, the switch decouples the first electronic circuit from thepower source of the electronic device while maintaining the electroniccoupling between the second electronic circuit and the power source.This enables the electronic device to have tracking functionalitywithout powering the rest of the electronic device. In some embodiments,the electronic device may contain a system board for the primaryfunctionality of the electronic device. A fractional portion of thesystem board may support BLE functionality and be isolated from the restof the system board for power consumption. For example, a mobile phonemay include a system board with cellular radio, BLE functionality, andWiFi functionality.

In some embodiments, the electronic device includes both a soft powerswitch and a hard power switch. The soft power switch can enable theuser to toggle between a different set of operating modes than the hardpower switch. For instance, a user can use the soft power switch toconfigure the electronic device to operate in the tracking standby mode,but must use the hard power switch to configure the electronic device tooperate in the “off” mode. In some embodiments, the electronic deviceonly has one switch (either a soft switch or a hard switch), and a usercan configure the electronic device to operate in any of theabove-referenced operating modes. In some embodiments, a first switch(such as a soft power switch) can be coupled to a separate power sourcethan a second switch (such as a hard power switch). Likewise, in someembodiments, the electronic circuit associated with a device's primaryfunctionality can be coupled to a separate power source than theelectronic circuit associated with a device's tracking functionality.

In some embodiments, the tracking standby mode takes priority over the“off” mode such that a switch or configuration interface associated withthe tracking standby mode must be configured to disable the trackingstandby mode in order for the device to be configured in the “off” mode.This can prevent a user from inadvertently disabling the trackingfunctionality of an electronic device when powering down the primaryfunctionality of the device. In such embodiments, when the device isoperating (for example) in the “on” mode and the user interacts with aswitch to configure the electronic device in the “off” mode, the deviceis instead configured in the tracking standby mode unless the user hasexplicitly disabled the tracking standby mode. For example, the trackingstandby mode may be disabled after proper authentication by the user onthe electronic device or via an application on the mobile device 102. Infurther embodiments, the switch or configuration interface enablingtracking standby mode is located on a different device (such as a mobilephone).

In some embodiments, the electronic device maintains some backgroundfunctionality when operating in the first standby mode so that the fullprimary functionality of the electronic device can be quickly restoredfor use at any time. For example, earbuds may start receiving audiosignals as soon as they are placed within a user's ears and need toquickly be configured to play the audio signals. Electronic devices suchas these may require more sensors to be ready for use at any time thanthe average electronic, increasing the cost of the electronic device andthe amount of power required for full functionality. However, in manycases, these electronic devices only need to be ready to be use when amobile device is nearby. Returning to the previous example, the earbudscan be configured to operate with full primary functionality (or in the“on” mode) when they are within a threshold proximity to a mobiledevice. When they are outside this threshold proximity, the earbuds maybe configured to operate in the first standby mode or the trackingstandby mode. However, once the move within the threshold proximity(e.g., once the earbuds are within range of a signal transmitted by themobile phone), the earbuds can be configured to operate in the “on”mode, enabling a user to choose a song to play on the mobile device andhave the earbuds immediately begin playing the song. Alternatively, thepresence of a mobile device may be used to imply the presence of theuser, who may travel around more often with the mobile device than withother electronic devices. To save power, the electronic device may beconfigured to operate in the tracking standby mode while the mobiledevice is a threshold distance away from the electronic device. Once themobile device (and presumably the user) reaches or moves within thethreshold distance to the electronic device, the mobile device maysignal to the tracking device 106 within the electronic device toconfigure the device to operate in the first standby mode so that theelectronic device is ready for use.

In some embodiments, the electronic device can be automaticallyconfigured to operate in the tracking standby mode in response to atrigger criteria being satisfied. For instance, the electronic devicecan be configured to operate in the tracking standby mode in response toan amount of power available to the electronic device falling below athreshold level, thereby enabling the electronic device to continue tobe tracked and/or located even when the electronic device does not haveenough power to power the primary functionality of the electronicdevice. Likewise, the electronic device can be configured to operate inthe tracking standby mode after operating in the first standby mode fora threshold amount of time, after not having received an input orinteraction from a user for the threshold amount of time, or both. Insome embodiments, the electronic device, while configured to operate inthe tracking standby mode, can be automatically configured to operate inthe first standby mode or the “on” mode, for instance in response tobeing plugged into a power source, in response to an amount of poweravailable to the electronic device exceeding a threshold, in response toreceiving an input or interaction by a user, in response to detectingmovement of the electronic device, or in response to any other suitablecriteria.

Although two standby modes are described above, it should be noted thatin some embodiments, the electronic device can be configured to operatein a third standby mode (or a “second tracking standby mode”). In thesecond tracking standby mode, the primary functionality of theelectronic device is disabled, and the tracking functionality of theelectronic device is limited relative to the tracking standby mode. Forinstance, when configured to operate in the tracking standby mode, theelectronic device can be configured to advertise tracking signals at afirst frequency and a first power, and when configured to operate in thesecond tracking standby mode, the electronic device can be configured toadvertise tracking signals at a second frequency and second power,wherein the second frequency is slower than the first frequency, thesecond power is lower than the first power, or both. The second trackingstandby mode uses less power than the tracking standby mode,beneficially allowing the electronic device to retain some trackingfunctionality while improving power savings relative to the trackingstandby mode. In some embodiments, the tracking device can be configuredto operate in the second tracking standby mode in response to a userinput, automatically in response to an amount of power available to theelectronic device falling below a threshold, in response to theelectronic device being configured to operate in the tracking standbymode for a threshold amount of time, in response to the electronicdevice being configured to operate in the tracking standby mode and theelectronic device moving to a safe zone (a geographic area in which theprobability that the electronic device will be lost is lower thanoutside the geographic area), or in response to any other suitablecondition. In other embodiments, the tracking standby mode may beconfigured to advertise tracking signals at different frequencies andpowers instead of using a second tracking standby mode. The user maychoose from various options for frequency and power or enter customizedfrequency and power values via the mobile device 102.

It should also be noted that in some embodiments, the electronic devicedescribed herein can be configured to operate in the “on” mode, the“off” mode, and the tracking standby mode, but not the first standbymode. In other words, the electronic device can be configured to havefull primary functionality and tracking functionality, to have fulltracking functionality while the full primary functionality is disabled,and to have both primary functionality and tracking functionalitydisabled. For instance, a first standby mode may not be available orfeasible for electronic devices with a primary functionality that iseither active or inactive. Thus, the availability of a tracking standbymode and the corresponding principles described herein are equallyapplicable to electronic devices that are unable to be configured tooperate in a first standby mode.

FIGS. 7A, 7C, 7E, and 7G illustrate examples of the laptop 600 connectedto the tracking system 100 via the mobile device 102 in each of fourdifferent operating modes. FIGS. 7B, 7D, 7F, and 7H illustrate thecorresponding configuration of a power switch 715 on the laptop 600corresponding to the four modes.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example of the laptop 600 configured to operatein an “on” mode, according to one embodiment. The laptop 600 has fullfunctionality, including a primary functionality and a trackingfunctionality. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7H, the primaryfunctionality of the laptop 600 is network communication with the router700, and thus the laptop is sending and receiving router communicationsignals 710 from a router 700 in the embodiment of FIG. 7A. Likewise, inthe embodiment of FIGS. 7A-7H, the tracking functionality includessending and receiving tracking communication signals 705 to and from themobile device 102, which is connected to the tracking system 100 tomonitor the laptop's location. It should be noted that while the laptop600 can include other primary functionality (such as displaying video,enabling the use of various applications running on the laptop, and thelike), the description of the primary functionality described in FIGS.7A-7H is limited to the communication with the router 700 for thepurposes of the simplicity.

FIG. 7B illustrates an example of a power switch 715 of the laptop 600configured to operate in the “on” mode, according to one embodiment. Inthis embodiment, and the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7D, 7F, and 7H, thelaptop 600 includes one power switch 715 used to configure the operatingmode of the laptop. The power switch 715 is switched to “ON” 720, whichindicates that the laptop 600 is configured to operate in the “on” mode,as shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7C illustrates an example of the laptop 600 configured to operatein a first standby mode, according to one embodiment. The laptop 600 hassome functionality and can quickly be configured to operate in the “on”mode (for instance, in response to an input from a user). The laptop 600is still sending and receiving tracking communication signals 705 to andfrom the mobile device 102 connected to the tracking system 100 tomonitor the laptop's 600 location. However, the laptop is only sendingand receiving select router communication signals 710 from a router 700.The select router communication signals 712 include fewer communicationsignals relative to the router communication signals 710. Thus, thelaptop 600, when configured to operate in the first standby mode, has areduced primary functionality relative to operation in the “on” mode.

FIG. 7D illustrates an example of the power switch 715 of the laptopconfigured to operate in the first standby mode, according to oneembodiment. The power switch 715 is switched to “ON” 720, but in thisembodiment, the laptop 600 has transitioned to standby mode, asindicated by the display of a screensaver by the laptop 600 in FIG. 7C,due to lack of user input for a threshold amount of time, or due to anexplicit input from a user indicating the laptop 600 should be instandby mode.

FIG. 7E illustrates an example of the laptop 600 configured to operatein a tracking standby mode, according to one embodiment. The primaryfunctionality of the laptop 600 has been disabled, but the trackingfunctionality has been maintained. Thus, the laptop 600 is sending andreceiving tracking communication signals 705 to and from the mobiledevice 102, but the laptop 600 is not communicating with the router 700.

FIG. 7F illustrates an example of the power switch 715 of the laptopconfigured to operate in the tracking standby mode, according to oneembodiment. The power switch 715 is switched to “TRACKING” 725, whichindicates that the laptop 600 is configured to operate in the trackingstandby mode, as shown in FIG. 7E.

FIG. 7G illustrates an example of the laptop 600 configured to operatein an “off” mode, according to one embodiment. The primary functionalityand the tracking functionality of the laptop 600 has been disabled, andthus the laptop 600 cannot be tacked via the tracking system 100 sinceit is not sending any tracking communication signals 705 to the mobiledevice 102.

FIG. 7H illustrates an example of the power switch 715 of the laptop 600configured to operate in the “off” mode, according to one embodiment.The power switch 715 is switched to “OFF” 725, which indicates that thelaptop 600 is configured to operate in the “off” mode, as shown in FIG.7G. Though FIG. 7H illustrates an example of a physical power switch 715for the laptop 600 that can be configured to operate in “off” mode whenswitched to “OFF,” in some embodiments, the power switch 715 may not beconfigured to operate in the “off” mode so that the laptop 600 may notbe fully disconnected from power and may be tracked. In suchembodiments, switching the power switch in the “OFF” position mayconfigure the device to operate in the second standby mode.

Additional Considerations

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the abovedisclosure.

Any of the devices or systems described herein can be implemented by oneor more computing devices. A computing device can include a processor, amemory, a storage device, an I/O interface, and a communicationinterface, which may be communicatively coupled by way of communicationinfrastructure. Additional or alternative components may be used inother embodiments. In particular embodiments, a processor includeshardware for executing computer program instructions by retrieving theinstructions from an internal register, an internal cache, or othermemory or storage device, and decoding and executing them. The memorycan be used for storing data or instructions for execution by theprocessor. The memory can be any suitable storage mechanism, such asRAM, ROM, flash memory, solid state memory, and the like. The storagedevice can store data or computer instructions, and can include a harddisk drive, flash memory, an optical disc, or any other suitable storagedevice. The I/O interface allows a user to interact with the computingdevice, and can include a mouse, keypad, keyboard, touch screeninterface, and the like. The communication interface can includehardware, software, or a combination of both, and can provide one ormore interfaces for communication with other devices or entities.

Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of theinvention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations ofoperations on information. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are commonly used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively toothers skilled in the art. These operations, while describedfunctionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to beimplemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits,microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient attimes, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, withoutloss of generality. The described operations and their associatedmodules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or anycombinations thereof.

Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may beperformed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules,alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, asoftware module is implemented with a computer program productcomprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code,which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or allof the steps, operations, or processes described.

Embodiments of the invention may also relate to an apparatus forperforming the operations herein. This apparatus may be speciallyconstructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise ageneral-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfiguredby a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer programmay be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storagemedium, or any type of media suitable for storing electronicinstructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus.Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the specification mayinclude a single processor or may be architectures employing multipleprocessor designs for increased computing capability.

Embodiments of the invention may also relate to a product that isproduced by a computing process described herein. Such a product maycomprise information resulting from a computing process, where theinformation is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readablestorage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer programproduct or other data combination described herein.

Finally, the language used in the specification has been principallyselected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not havebeen selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited notby this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on anapplication based herein. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodimentsof the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, ofthe scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. An electronic device, comprising: a first electronic circuitconfigured to enable a primary functionality of the electronic device; asecond electronic circuit configured to enable a tracking functionalityof the electronic device; a power source configured to power the firstelectronic circuit and the second electronic circuit; and a controllerconfigured to configure the electronic device to operate in each of anon mode, a first standby mode, and a second standby mode; wherein: theprimary functionality of the electronic device and the trackingfunctionality of the electronic device are both enabled when theelectronic device is configured to operate in the on mode; the primaryfunctionality of the electronic device is restricted and the trackingfunctionality of the electronic device is enabled such that theelectronic device periodically transmits pairing protocol beacon signalsat a first frequency when the electronic device is configured to operatein the first standby mode; and the primary functionality of theelectronic device is disabled and the tracking functionality of theelectronic device is enabled such that the electronic deviceperiodically transmits pairing protocol beacon signals at a secondfrequency while otherwise being powered down when the electronic deviceis configured to operate in the second standby mode, wherein the secondfrequency is slower than the first frequency.
 2. The electronic deviceof claim 1, wherein the power source is physically separated from thefirst and second electronic circuits when the electronic device isconfigured to operate in an off mode, wherein the primary functionalityof the electronic device and the tracking functionality of theelectronic device are both disabled when the electronic device isconfigured to operate in the off mode.
 3. The electronic device of claim1, wherein the power source is electrically coupled to the secondelectronic circuit and is not electrically coupled to the firstelectronic circuit when the electronic device is configured to operatein the second standby mode.
 4. The electronic device of claim 1, whereinthe second electronic circuit is a BLE transceiver.
 5. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured toperiodically transmit pairing protocol beacon signals to a mobile devicewhen the tracking functionality is enabled, the mobile device configuredto provide a location of the electronic device to a tracking server inresponse to receiving the tracking signal.
 6. The electronic device ofclaim 5, wherein the mobile device is further configured to provide anidentity of the electronic device in response to receiving a pairingprotocol beacon signal.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein thecontroller configures the electronic device to operate in the firststandby mode when the electronic device receives a user input associatedwith the first standby mode.
 8. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the controller configures the electronic device to operate inthe first standby mode when the electronic device has not received auser input for more than a threshold amount of time.
 9. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured tooperate in the second standby mode in response to receiving a user inputassociated with the second standby mode.
 10. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to operate in thesecond standby mode in response to an amount of power of the powersource falling below a power threshold.
 11. The electronic device ofclaim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to operate in theon mode in response to detecting a signal from a second electronicdevice.
 12. A method comprising: configuring an electronic device tooperate in an on mode; in response to receiving no user input for athreshold amount of time, configuring the electronic device to operatein a first standby mode; and in response to receiving a second inputassociated with a second standby mode, configuring the electronic deviceto operate in the second standby mode; wherein: a primary functionalityof the electronic device and a tracking functionality of the electronicdevice are both enabled when the electronic device is configured tooperate in the on mode; the primary functionality of the electronicdevice is restricted and the tracking functionality of the electronicdevice is enabled such that the electronic device periodically transmitspairing protocol beacon signals at a first frequency when the electronicdevice is configured to operate in the first standby mode; and theprimary functionality of the electronic device is disabled and thetracking functionality of the electronic device is enabled such that theelectronic device periodically transmits pairing protocol beacon signalsat a second frequency while otherwise being powered down when theelectronic device is configured to operate in the second standby mode,wherein the second frequency is slower than the first frequency.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the electronic device includes a powersource that is physically separated from a first electronic circuit anda second electronic circuit when the electronic device is configured tooperate in an off mode, the first electronic circuit configured toenable the primary functionality of the electronic device and the secondelectronic circuit configured to enable the tracking functionality ofthe electronic device, wherein the primary functionality of theelectronic device and the tracking functionality of the electronicdevice are both disabled when the electronic device is configured tooperate in the off mode.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein theelectronic device includes a power source that is electrically coupledto a second electronic circuit and is not electrically coupled to afirst electronic circuit when the electronic device is configured tooperate in the second standby mode, the first electronic circuitconfigured to enable the primary functionality of the electronic deviceand the second electronic circuit configured to enable the trackingfunctionality of the electronic device.
 15. The method of claim 12,wherein the electronic device includes a second electronic circuit thatis a BLE transceiver, the second electronic circuit configured to enablethe tracking functionality of the electronic device.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the electronic device is configured to periodicallytransmit pairing protocol beacon signals to a mobile device when thetracking functionality is enabled, the mobile device configured toprovide a location of the electronic device to a tracking server inresponse to receiving the tracking signal.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the mobile device is further configured to provide an identityof the electronic device in response to receiving a pairing protocolbeacon signal
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic deviceincludes a controller that configures the electronic device to operatein the first standby mode when the electronic device receives a userinput associated with the first standby mode.
 19. The method of claim12, wherein the electronic device includes a controller that configuresthe electronic device to operate in the first standby mode when theelectronic device has not received a user input for more than athreshold amount of time.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein theelectronic device is configured to operate in the second standby mode inresponse to receiving a user input associated with the second standbymode.
 21. The method of claim 12, wherein the electronic device includesa power source and the electronic device is configured to operate in thesecond standby mode in response to an amount of power of the powersource falling below a power threshold.
 22. The method of claim 12,wherein the electronic device is configured to operate in the on mode inresponse to detecting a signal from a second electronic device.